The holiday is for kids so here's a song for them.

         

Next up Thanksgiving

                    A Missed Season

It's fall in my home state of Virginia. Specifically in Roanoke. Located in the southwest part of the state. And we miss the beautiful fall scenery. The cool crisp days and the chilly snugly nights. The kind that when you walk out onto your deck with a warm drink in your hand and gaze up at the stars and see your breath as you sigh at the wonders of God and the hopes for tomorrow. 

 

You don't get that here in the tropical climate of Costa Rica at this time of the year. All you can look forward to is the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the 'high season'. Which means many more tourists that fly here to escape their cold weather and enjoy the tropical climate that sometimes we want to escape from. Ironic, they are here to escape from the very thing that we miss!

 

I guess the saying, "Be careful of what you wish for" is true. But then if everything was just as you wanted it all the time...............life would be so boring wouldn't it..........

 

                                   Pura Vida and Happy Holidays     

                                          

          

                                  

Stand and honor or give up that multi million dollar payday! 

                                    

                              Mini vacation to Jaco Playa 

 

We just spent three days at Hotel Arenas in Punta Leona Costa Rica in celebration of our 16th wedding anniversary. It is a 3 star hotel and we had the all-inclusive package. We got a super low price due to it being LOW SEASON. This simply means that the tourism trade is low but it will be picking up in a month and the great rate deals will vanish along with the rainy season. We were fortunate and it did not rain a drop during our visit. 

 

This place was great. Very spacious modern rooms. Air conditioned with ceiling fan. Most important in this tropical country. Fantastic pool area with a swim up bar or you can sit down in the concrete enclosed area and watch the swim participants play while taking advantage of the snacks available and of course the multiple alcoholic beverages. Most without the little ubiquitous umbrella normally associated with drinks here. However, no grass skirts. Darn the bad luck!

 

They have various activities throughout the day geared toward the pool use. Water polo, water volleyball, aqua gym just to name a few. Of course all of the activities gain in their fun factor in proportion to the number of umbrella-less drinks consumed. I should mention that the various bikinis do make up some of the absence of grass skirts. 

 

The food was excellent! The menu is somewhat limited but every meal we did have was savory and plentiful. Room service is not available but as a courtesy in honor of our anniversary they did serve us breakfast in our room one morning. As we ate it on the balcony we toasted our next 16 years. As well as our wishful thinking that we will still be among the breathing and upright population at that time. 

 

The downside was our return trip. Due to a major accident on route 27 we were diverted and our 1 1/2 hour trip turned into 3 hours! So you guessed it. The relaxation that we received for 3 days was negated and plans are currently being drawn up for the next attempt at escape...............................         

 

                                       Pura Vida ya'll       

                                                   Entrance to the hotel

 

                                The trifecta plus one

So it's Hallothanksmas + New Year time again. When I was a kid this was an enchanting time of year. Every kids dream. Free candy and dress up. Then turkey and all the trimmings. Then presents (hopefully the ones you ask for). Then your parents celebrate New Years Eve and you quietly take advantage of their hangover and plot for more free candy.

 

We aren't kids anymore. Now we see this time of year as an expensive pain in the arse. Although to be honest it's not as bad now since I live in Costa Rica so Halloween and Thanksgiving are not celebrated here. The commercial world does sell the costumes and the scary stuff but the kids don't get to do the trick-or-treating. What a rip off!! I think if the culture here was not so laid back the kids would be conducting their own renditions of sit-ins and possibly burning something in effigy. Who could blame them? Kids all over the world loves free candy. Of course Thanksgiving is a North America thing. 

 

Christmas is a lot like it is in the states in that the commercial entities start around the end of October(Octubre) pushing all things buy buy buy.... However, there are some distinct differences. One can be found in one of my blogs from last year. Also we are coming out of the rainy season(winter) and the morning temperatures are notably cooler. 

 

As for Thanksgiving. My wife and I started a tradition. Shortly after Christmas we have the family over where we prepare a traditional Thanksgiving feast, turkey and all the trimmings and several desserts. We exchange gifts and have a little party. Well, they party. I am still licking my wounds from the exorbitant cost of the dinner. Just turkey alone costs about $4 a pound and the other dishes, since they are imported from the US, is enough to buy a small house here! Oh how they can eat and eat and..... But hey they are family.    

                                                 So enjoy your holidays.